Saving Seafood

National Fisheries Institute Statement on the EU’s Retaliatory Seafood Tariffs

November 9, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

Today’s news that the European Union will place tariffs on about $20 million worth of annual United States seafood exports to the EU is disappointing. The seafood communities in the U.S. and EU have long enjoyed a trade relationship that has created tens of thousands of jobs and, most recently, been poised to expand.

It makes no sense that a World Trade Organization dispute about planes that fly 40,000 feet above where fish swim should include seafood.  Now, given missteps by both sides, American workers and families will suffer.

The new tariffs come at a time when the seafood industry in both the U.S. and EU are focused on rebuilding and reopening. Such trade barriers distract from this important economic recovery.

National Fisheries Institute Statement on Seafood Expo North America 2021

November 2, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

For years, the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and its members have seen Diversified Communications’ dedication to educating, connecting, and growing the seafood industry on display at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America and its many events around the globe. This year has shined a spotlight on another Diversified Communications commitment: the health and safety of its employees, vendors, and customers.

Earlier this year Diversified made the difficult decision to reschedule and then cancel the 2020 edition of Seafood Expo North America. The 2021 version was planned for March.

Once again illustrating its commitment to meet the seafood community’s needs while prioritizing the health and safety of all Seafood Expo North America/ Seafood Processing North America attendees, Diversified has announced the 2021 event will be held later in the year.

NFI and our member companies appreciate Diversified’s responsiveness, flexibility and innovation during these unprecedented times. We are all looking forward to gathering and supporting Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America in 2021 when it is safe to do so.

US Trade Commission hears testimony on CETA’s impact on US lobster exports

October 1, 2020 — The U.S. International Trade Commission heard testimony Thursday, 1 October, on the effect the trade agreement between Canada and the European Union has had on America’s lobster industry.

The Canada-E.U. pact, known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), has had a detrimental effect on U.S. lobstermen and exporters since it took effect three years ago, according to Robert DeHaan, the vice president for government affairs for the National Fisheries Institute. DeHaan said the deal meant U.S. exporters faced 8 percent tariffs on live lobsters and up to 20 percent on value-added products while their Canadian counterparts paid no levies on the same products, providing them with a significant competitive advantage.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Kim Gorton calls on Congress to pass another stimulus for small businesses in seafood, foodservice

September 30, 2020 — Bad debt is plaguing the U.S. seafood industry, and the only cure is another federal stimulus package. That was the message Kim Gorton delivered Wednesday, 30 September, to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business.

Gorton, the president and CEO of Slade Gorton and a board member of the National Fisheries Institute, the U.S. seafood industry’s primary trade body, told the panel seafood industry businesses like her family’s have a combined USD 2.2 billion (EUR 1.9 billion) in bad debt and other foodservice companies carry about USD 10 billion (EUR 8.53 billion) in bad debt.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

National Fisheries Institute Statement on SIMP-Compliant Importers List

September 22, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

NOAA Fisheries has announced a new Seafood Import Monitoring Program component designed to highlight “Compliant Importers” and reduce the frequency of their audits. The SIMP-Compliant Importers List will be posted beginning in October of 2020.

NFI recognizes and appreciates efforts to improve efficiencies by reducing audits. Decreasing the number of audits for qualified importers, who maintain the detailed recordkeeping requirements of SIMP, is a more effective use of government resources and will hopefully reduce the burden on taxpayers.

NFI encourages NOAA to work on more efforts to streamline SIMP and reduce costs that are ultimately paid by consumers.

National Fisheries Institute Statement on FDA Food Traceability Proposed Rule

September 22, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released its proposed rule for traceability and recordkeeping, along with a draft “Food Traceability List” that catalogues which products would be subject to the requirements.

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) supports efforts to both modernize and advance food safety. The seafood community has been at the forefront of efforts to safeguard our safe and wholesome products as an early adapter of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system. This year, as the FDA moves towards an evolution in traceability, NFI’s members have proactively explored technologically enabled traceability through a Blockchain pilot to test its viability in a real seafood value chain.

We are currently reviewing the proposed rule and draft “Food Traceability List.” And as with any new regulatory structure, we are interested in ensuring there are no duplicative systems that would complicate the new traceability parameters.

An initial review of the draft “Food Traceability List,” from a seafood perspective, suggests a “one size fits all” approach; which may not be warranted. Just like with HACCP and other modern food safety efforts, a focus on a few critical points or products is a better use of energy and resources.

We are hopeful this proposal will help begin an orderly process that integrates modern supply chain traceability systems within a technologically advanced regulatory structure.

Seafood Industry Research Fund Announces the Ed Morey Memorial Fund

September 21, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

The Seafood Industry Research Fund (SIRF) Board of Directors has unanimously approved the formation of the Ed Morey, Founder, Morey’s Fish Company, Memorial Fund.

Ed Morey founded Morey’s Fish Company in 1937. Ed was a logger, farmer and baker who traded a load of sweetcorn for a load of seafood from a fisherman whose truck broke down in Ed’s hometown of Motley, Minnesota. As they say, the rest is history. In 1964, Morey’s became a true family business when Ed’s son, Loren, joined the operation. With Ed and Loren’s leadership, the business continued to expand and today Morey’s frozen and smoked fish and seafood can be found in retail stores and on dinner tables across the U.S.

Loren Morey served as the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) Chairman in 1985 and remained active in guiding NFI for many years. Loren chose to name it solely after his father, but with this new fund SIRF hopes to acknowledge the contributions of both Ed and Loren Morey and all they have done for NFI, SIRF, families in Motley, Minnesota, and the seafood industry broadly.

“Ed Morey’s history is a fascinating tale of hard work, innovation, and foresight,” said SIRF Chairman, Sean O’Scannlain, President and CEO of Fortune International. “Ed put seafood on the Midwest map, paving the way for companies like mine, also based far from any U.S. coastline.”

Loren generously donated $60,000 to the fund, and SIRF has already received interest from others to support the fund as well.

“Loren, like his father so often did, is looking to the future with a fund that will benefit the seafood community for years to come. Their generosity is a testament to the company and the family,” said O’Scannlain.

SIRF started as the Lewis Goldstein Memorial Fund in 1964, grew into the Fisheries Scholarship Fund during the 1980s and became the Seafood Industry Research Fund in 2012. 56 years and more than 50 funds later, this important research support mechanism is proud to welcome the Ed Morey Memorial Fund.

To find out how you can contribute, please email Geraldine Espejo gespejo@NFI.org.

National Fisheries Institute Statement on Seafood Trade Relief Program

September 10, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute :

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement that it will provide $530 million to support the men and women who harvest seafood, whose livelihoods have been impacted by retaliatory tariffs, illustrates the Trump Administration’s ongoing focus on this important sector. Seafood starts in the oceans and making sure those Americans who work the water are supported is vital.

It remains essential that the Administration and Congress understand the complexities of seafood. To get product from water to table all parts need to be considered. Without help for the processors and distributors in the middle of the supply chain, fishermen’s catch will simply sit on the dock of the bay.

The Seafood Trade Relief Program is a welcome effort that will help an important part of America’s commercial seafood industry, while reminding us all of the importance of a fully functioning value chain.

Seafood2030 investigates pre-competitive collaborations for new issue brief series installment

August 21, 2020 — Seafood2030 has published the second volume in its issue brief series, “How Collaborative Leadership is Turning Seafood into the Protein of the Future.”

The new issue brief looks at the growing influence of pre-competitive collaborations in seafood and how such a strategy is helping seafood become more competitive in global protein markets.

Read the full story at Seafood Source